Expert: Man City have 'big' academy problem as Phil Foden struggles explained
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(Credit: Imago) Wed 18 March 2026 11:00, UK Phil Foden’s ongoing struggles at Manchester City point to a deeper issue with the club’s academy development and young players coming through.Foden is not the only City academy graduate having issues in the Premier League, with the likes of James McAtee highlighting the issue at Nottingham Forest.Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the 25-year-old is an extreme example given his success, but does underline a recurring issue.The likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Nico O’Reilly have thrived due to their physical traits, but those in the mould of Foden and McAtee have struggled.Being surrounded by technical players at academy and senior levels sometimes means the players are unable to adapt when they leave Man City.Credit: ImagoMan City academy issue highlighted by Phil FodenBrown previously told Football Insider that Rico Lewis would not leave Man City due to a lack of interest and concerns about how his profile would translate. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES The same issue goes for a number of City’s recent academy products, who struggle when stepping into less technical and possession-hungry sides.“Man City have a big problem with their academy,” Brown told Football Insider.“Somebody once said to me, be careful if you’re signing a player from City’s academy.
The play, train and think that way.“A lot of players come out of there with big reputations, but largely because they’ve been surrounded by good technical players who all bounce off each other.“When they’re taken out of that system, isolated, and challenged with going to a club like Nottingham Forest and making them a better team, they can’t do it.“I think that information has a lot of value because I’ve seen it time after time with lots of these players.“James McAtee is having it at Nottingham Forest, and even Phil Foden. That’s a harsh example because of course he’s had his success at City, but the point stands.Credit: Imago“Look at the issues Foden has had this season.
He can show the class he has, but he’ll go through games where he never has a kick.“And that is a symptom of having come through the City academy. His good spells are better than all of the others, but if he’s going through a bad spell, he might as well not play.“There are a few examples of that in the Premier League, if you keep an eye on a few of them, they can’t transfer what they showed at City to their new clubs.”Which other players illustrate Man City’s academy concerns?While Foden and McAtee are the two examples Brown referred to, they are far from the only players struggling in a less dominant system than that of City.Brown told Football Insider in December that Crystal Palace were interested in signing Bobb either on loan or on a permanent deal in the mid-season window.However, there were reservations on Palace’s side about whether the winger would suit Glasner’s system given his education under Guardiola in a majorly different style.Credit: ImagoHe instead ended up joining Fulham in a big-money deal, where he has impressed with his talent but struggled in terms of end product.Jadon Sancho is another who has struggled in the Premier League, despite his success at Dortmund, with the trend becoming a concern.